Author Archives: 9siduri

Review of “The Screaming Skull” by F. Marion Crawford: Halloween Countdown

Plot:Retired Captain Braddock has come to live in his late cousin Luke Pratt’s house. Cousin Luke was a doctor. His wife pre-deceased him. Their son was killed (in the Boer War?) in South Africa. Braddock isn’t nervous—so he keeps telling his unnamed houseguest, who is also an old sailor. He’s heard the skull scream often.Continue reading “Review of “The Screaming Skull” by F. Marion Crawford: Halloween Countdown”

Review of “Schalken the Painter” by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu: Halloween Countdown

For October 22 Plot:The painting by the artist Godfrey Schalken is a family heirloom. A woman in a white dress, part of which forms a veil. She holds a lamp, lighting her features, an effect at which its creator excelled. It shows her “arch smile,” as if she’s pulled off some prank. Behind her, inContinue reading “Review of “Schalken the Painter” by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu: Halloween Countdown”

Review of “The Repairer of Reputations” by Robert W. Chambers: Halloween Countdown

For October 21 Plot: As envisioned from 1895, the year 1920 looks good. The tariff and labor questions have been settled. New architecture replaces old. The war with Germany, occasioned by the latter’s seizure of the Samoan Islands, has left no visible mark on the republic. And we won’t mention the ridiculous plight of GeneralContinue reading “Review of “The Repairer of Reputations” by Robert W. Chambers: Halloween Countdown”

Review of “The Open Door” by Mrs. Margaret Oliphant: Halloween Countdown

For October 20 Plot: On his return from India in 18—, Colonel Mortimer takes a house called Brentwood for his family. Edinburgh is within reach so his daughters can have the masters and lessons they need, and his boy, Roland, whose education has been neglected, can now receive the proper education for a lad hisContinue reading “Review of “The Open Door” by Mrs. Margaret Oliphant: Halloween Countdown”

Review of “Mysterious Maisie” by Wirt Gerrare: Halloween Countdown

For October 19 Plot: With her father recently deceased and her mother in failing health, seventeen-year-old Laura must earn a living. She is not (her sister Maggie writes) fit to be a teacher. Even if she were, hearing what Maggie has to say about her own post as an assistant mistress of a high schoolContinue reading “Review of “Mysterious Maisie” by Wirt Gerrare: Halloween Countdown”

Review of “The Mark of the Beast” by Rudyard Kipling: Halloween Countdown

For October 18 Plot: It’s New Year’s Eve in India during the Raj. Strickland of the police; Fleete, newly arrived and unfamiliar with native customs; and the unnamed narrator are tying one on—especially Fleete. His family’s property is in the hinterlands, so he usually doesn’t come into town. He ends up staggering home because hisContinue reading “Review of “The Mark of the Beast” by Rudyard Kipling: Halloween Countdown”

Review of “The Listener” by Algernon Blackwood: Halloween Countdown

For October 17 Plot: In a series of diary entries, the unnamed narrator tells the reader how he took new rooms in a less-then-affluent part of town. The lodgings lack “modern conveniences,” presumably running water and electricity. He’s a writer with several irons in the fire, and—whaddya know—he’s poor. Not that he had to be.Continue reading “Review of “The Listener” by Algernon Blackwood: Halloween Countdown”

Review of “Kecksies” by Marjorie Bowen: Halloween Countdown

For October 16 Plot:Two young gentlemen (so to speak) are returning from Canterbury quite drunk and obnoxious. The reader gets the impression they annoy even their horses with their attempts at singing. They’ve miscalculated, however. A storm blows up. Nothing to worry about. Sir Edward Crediton is the local landowner, and one of his tenantsContinue reading “Review of “Kecksies” by Marjorie Bowen: Halloween Countdown”

Review of “The Horla” by Guy de Maupassant: Halloween Countdown

For October 15 Plot:The story is presented in a series of journal entries. Things start happily. The narrator appears wealthy enough to have servants and something of an estate. He contemplates the invisible though our are senses too poor to perceive it: “we can see neither the inhabitants of a star nor of a dropContinue reading “Review of “The Horla” by Guy de Maupassant: Halloween Countdown”